Not really clear on how things are supposed to work with spotify and the iPhone when connected via usb. I'm currently using beats but am trying a 30 day trial of spotify to see if i like it more.

I have the spotify app installed, as well as mini connected and the spotify app within mini connected.

First time I plugged in the iPhone, i fired up spotify and saw the iPhone's screen taken over by the mini logo, but couldn't access anything on the mini's display.

Second try, I launched Mini connected and went to Spotify. This launched the Spotify app on the iPhone, and I was greeted with the controls for Spotify on the Mini's display.

Third try, I quit the mini connected app and started the car. Spotify was still there.

So - will I have to start Mini Connected before using spotify every time, or was it a one-time event? Just finding it a bit confusing.

 

It does work without launching connected first. If I remember correctly tihe Spotify app will show up on the Media tab.

 

I will give that option a try. I also have been frustrated tying to get it to work using Mimi Connected

 

Got it. Go to External Devices, start Spotify and the app icon appears onscreen.

I'm not terribly pleased with the onscreen controls though. Select and album and start playing a track, there's no way to go back to the list of tracks on the album without going back to Albums and re-selecting the album.

A search feature would be nice, similar to the phone book. Ultimately it would be nice to select an artist and be presented with a list of their albums instead of a list of all their songs. I saved every Rush album (minus a few in the 90s lol) and was presented with a list of 150+ tracks. Not easy to navigate.

And once you've connected via USB, the screen on the iPhone is completely taken over by that splash screen. So you can't use the iPhone itself to navigate tracks, and if you need to switch it over to Maps, for example, the music stops. In short, for me it's better to use bluetooth and forego the onscreen selections. And I'm left with what is practically the same as Beats when i do that.

I really can't wait for the day when the Auto manufacturers get it figured out. After watching videos of Apple's Car Play, I'm not convinced that's the solution either, at least in its current form. There are obvious benefits, both practical and safety-related, to having controls on the screen, but if its crippled or a jumbled mess, I find myself taking my eyes off the road too much.

/rant

 

I have Spotify and tried using it via the connected interface. It was clunky and had to plug my phone in every time I get in my car. I reverted to using via bluetooth as a media player. Its pretty good, but there are some drawbacks. The album art shows from the first song you play and never updates. The skip song forward/back work, but you can't skip thru songs and then select like you can in the connected app. Also, sometimes turning on the radio can take up to a full minute to start playing music. Sometimes it never works.

So, I would give the whole thing a C-.

 

I was never a fan of using Spotify via the USB for music playback. On top of the low audio, I just didn't like that I couldn't do anything on my phone without having to exit the app. For example, if I am at a red light. I prefer the audio quality over Bluetooth; however, I was also in the same boat, where the track info and album artwork would not match up and it was so irritating that I would keep the navigation screen up so I wouldn't have to deal with it. I will say that after taking my car in for a routine service to replace a headlight that was scratched from the factory, I was advised there was a software update and it was listed as a Bluetooth interface update on the paper invoice. Ever since the update I can now use Spotify over Bluetooth as everything matches from the artist name and song title to the correct album artwork. You can also skip tracks and it still updates flawlessly. There is only a delay of about two seconds but I am thrilled for that small tiny update that made me so much happier with the whole mini connect/entertainment system. If it helps I have a 2015 Mini Cooper S with Connected/Navigation XL. I have attached a picture of the service invoice I am referring too. Hopefully you all can take advantage of this recall/software update.

 

Thanks for the info. Ironically, I have my MCS in for getting the protector sprayed on it. I will give them a call right now.

 

What is your phone? iPhone? Android? What OS?

I just got the update last week on my 2015 Connected/Navigation XL, and with my Android phone still no artwork. I'll have to try my wife's iPhone again ...

 

That sounds like a mess to navagate. I plug in an old iPod 5g. I have Mini Connected. I can search by letters for artist, or song, or genre. Select artist and all their albums are there to choose from. Choose one and play it and I can go to the list of tracks and select a different one. When the next track starts it shows the name of it and album on the screen for a few seconds then the album cover. When I start the car again the song plays where it left off.

 

I have a loaner at the moment. 2015 MCS. No artwork, but everything else works well over bluetooth. It works well on my 14 MCS but again no artwork. I just assumed artwork wasn't transmittable over bt.

 

You need to have "visual boost" or Navigation XL in order to see artwork. And it is does show over BT as well as having the source connected. I have Navigation XL and it always displays artwork no matter which mode is selected ... Bluetooth audio/iPhone 6 using my library, Bluetooth audio/iPhone 6 Pandora, Direct connect with my iPhone 5 library (I have the armrest connector) AND HD radio channels which I absolutely love. We have some great radio here in L.A. and I think it's awesome that the it displays album artwork as well.

 

I am using an iPhone 6 with iOS 8.1.2

No issues at all when streaming Spotify over Bluetooth.

 

So, driving last night, switched to my wife's iPhone 6 with Spotify BT streaming, artwork on first song, then song info and artwork never changed again -- showed same same info on all subsequent songs.

My Android man not show album art, but at least it shows the correct song info.

 

+1

I'm due for my 10K mile service in the next couple of months or so. I'll specifically ask for my software to be updated if it isn't a part of the normal list of things MINI takes care of.

 

Ok, picked up my MCS today. They did a software update and it fixed several bluetooth interactions with Spotify. Album art and song info is now updating with song changes. The sync with starting the music is much faster and more reliable. (note from post above was it some times would take 20-30 seconds to start playing music).

I will continue to use and see how if performs, but so far its much better.

I will try to see if any other improvements came with the software update. The Service Advisor called it a "bluetooth software update".

 

Do you remember how long the update took? Just wondering if something I could do on a quick trip to the dealer.

 

Sorry, I don't. They had to do more work at the same time (tinting, interior and exterior protect, stripes), so I had a loaner.

The SA said it was something I could have done myself and if you search you can find others who have.

 

It's all good...wished I'd seen this earlier. Just got mine back yesterday it was at the dealer for 43 days for a transmission replacement.

 

Check this thread out.
https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...-software.html

 

Thanks!!

 

Well since my damn car had to be towed to the dealer once again. I sent them a copy of the invoice showed in the post and also called to see if the update can be done. They said if my car has the certain requirements to do it they would check into it for me. So let's hope so but this is the least of worries for my poor little mini at the moment. It's had to be towed for shorted wiring harness to the injectors.

 

Ok tried to get my Bluetooth updated so Spotify would work. Said can't install because the bulletin for the update is for cars made like 3 months after my production date. WTF? They even tested and seen that it wouldn't work but since the bulletin doesn't include my car date not sure if they can do it. I even offered to pay for it. Let's hope something works out.

 

Isn't Spotify an official BMW App now? Try using it that way, rather than from your iPhone app (unless that's what you're talking about and I misread).

 

Yea that's what I'm using...funny thing is I won a 6 month free Spotify from @MINIUSA on Twitter and it doesn't work correctly.

 

Just got a used MINI, and it worked for me, and way better than expected after reading up on it! Plugged in through the the 30pin Y-cable, shows up as iPod, track titles seem to update with song, steering wheel controls even work, even the back button!! My car and phone are from around the same time so maybe that makes a difference, but perhaps there's hope!

2011 MINI Cooper S (R56) HK w/o Connected
iPhone 4S, iOS 9.3.1
Spotify Premium, 5.7.0.1055

Not the right thread (I don't have an F56) but found this and there's not much out there, so figured it was worth a post.